Tenchi Muyo!: Difference between revisions

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{{short description|Japanese anime, light novel and manga franchise}}

{{template:manga}}

{{hatnote|This article covers the series as a whole. For more detailed information, see the articles that make up the series.}}

'''''Tenchi Muyo!''''' (天地無用! '''''Tenchi Muyō!'''''), is an [[anime]] and [[manga]] series about a boy named Tenchi Masaki and the alien women that love him. It is commonly cited as an example of [[harem anime]].

{{Infobox animanga/Header

| image = Tenchi Muyo cover.png

| caption = Japanese volume 1 cover for ''No Need for Tenchi!'' depicting Ryoko Hakubi and Ryo-Ohki

| ja_kanji = 天地無用!

| ja_romaji = Tenchi Muyō!

| genre = [[Comedy]], [[Harem (genre)|harem]], [[space opera]]<ref>{{Cite web |author=Kimlinger, Carl |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tenchi-muyo-ova-series/bd+dvd |title=Tenchi Muyo! OVA Series |work=[[Anime News Network]] |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=7 October 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141007160901/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/review/tenchi-muyo-ova-series/bd+dvd |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |author=See, Raphael |url=http://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=454 |title=Tenchi Muyo! |publisher=T.H.E.M. Anime Reviews |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=1 August 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170801141842/http://themanime.org/viewreview.php?id=454 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.funimation.com/shows/tenchi-Mayo-ova-series/home |title=Watch Tenchi Muyo! OVA Series Anime Episodes Streaming on FUNimation |publisher=[[Funimation]] |access-date=2 October 2014 |archive-date=26 January 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210126000314/https://www.funimation.com/shows/tenchi-Mayo-ova-series/home |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |first=John |last=Oppliger |date=14 May 2010 |url=http://www.animenation.net/blog/2010/05/14/ask-john-where-is-isekai-no-seikishi-monogatari/ |title=Ask John: Where is Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari? |publisher=AnimeNation Anime News Blog |department=Ask John (column) |access-date=2 October 2014 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141006073806/http://www.animenation.net/blog/2010/05/14/ask-john-where-is-isekai-no-seikishi-monogatari/ |archive-date=6 October 2014 }}</ref><!-- Note: Use and cite reliable sources to identify genre/s, not personal interpretation. Please don't include more than three genres (per [[MOS:A&M]]). -->

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

| title = [[Original video animation]]s

| content =

* ''[[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki]]''

* ''[[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki#Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special|Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special]]''

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = No Need for Tenchi!

| author = [[Hitoshi Okuda]]

| publisher = [[Fujimi Shobo]]

| publisher_en = {{English manga publisher|NA= [[Viz Media]]|SG=[[Chuang Yi]]}}

| demographic = ''[[Shōnen manga|Shōnen]]''

| magazine = Comic Dragon Junior

| first = December 16, 1994

| last = June 9, 2000

| volumes = 12

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Print

| type = manga

| title = The All-New Tenchi Muyo!

| author = [[Hitoshi Okuda]]

| publisher = [[Fujimi Shobo]]

| demographic = ''[[Shōnen manga|Shōnen]]''

| magazine = {{ubl|Comic Dragon Junior|[[Monthly Dragon Age]]}}

| first = July 26, 2000

| last = December 9, 2005

| volumes = 10

| volume_list =

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

| title = Anime television series

| content =

* ''[[Tenchi Universe]]''

* ''[[Tenchi in Tokyo]]''

* ''[[Tenchi Muyo! GXP]]''

* ''[[Ai Tenchi Muyo!]]''

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

| title = Feature films

| content =

* ''[[Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love]]''

* ''[[Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness]]''

* ''[[Tenchi Forever! The Movie]]''

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Other

| title = Related works

| content =

* ''[[Magical Girl Pretty Sammy]]'' {{small|(1995–1997)}}

* ''[[Magical Project S]]'' {{small|(1996–1997)}}

* ''Spaceship Agga Ruter'' {{small|(1998–1999)}}

* ''[[Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure]]'' {{small|(1999)}}

* ''[[Sasami: Magical Girls Club]]'' {{small|(2006)}}

* ''[[Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar]]'' {{small|(2009–2010)}}

}}

{{Infobox animanga/Footer}}

{{nihongo|'''''Tenchi Muyo!'''''|[[wikt:天地無用|天地無用]]!|Tenchi Muyō!|lit. "Do Not Turn Over" or "No Need for Tenchi"}} is a Japanese [[anime]], [[light novel]] and [[manga]] franchise. The original series began with a six-episode [[Original video animation|OVA]] called {{nihongo|''[[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki]]''|天地無用! 魎皇鬼|Tenchi Muyō! Ryōōki}}. This original series was created by [[Masaki Kajishima]] and directed by [[Hiroki Hayashi]], and it was released in Japan on September 25, 1992. The series was released by Pioneer LDC in the United Kingdom in 1994.<ref>{{Cite journal |date=March 1994 |title=Mangaphile |journal=Manga Mania |volume=1 |issue=9 |page=4 |issn=0967-1315 |___location=United Kingdom |publisher=[[Dark Horse Comics|Dark Horse]]}}</ref>

The Original Series, ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki'', was a six episode [[OVA]] ''(Original Video Animation or Direct-to-Home Video)'' series; released in Japan in 1991&ndash;92, and later in North America in 1992&ndash;93 by Pioneer USA (now [[Geneon|Geneon Entertainment]]). As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode (also known as the ''Tenchi Special'') and the ''Mihoshi Special''. In [[1994]], the second OVA series was created and released, featuring episodes 8&ndash;13; these episodes explain each of the characters in more detail and introduces a new one. In [[2003]] and [[2004]], a third OVA series was released, with episodes 14&ndash;19, centering around the three goddesses introduced in the second OVA series. Currently it has been licensed by [[FUNimation]] for an American Release.

As its popularity grew, it spurred a seventh episode titled ''Tenchi Muyo! Special: The Night Before the Carnival'' (also known as the ''Tenchi Special'') and a stand-alone ''[[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki#Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special|Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special]]''. A second OVA series was directed by Kenichi Yatagai and was released in 1994. A third OVA series, which was also directed by Yatagai, was released in 2003. A fourth OVA series was produced in Japan,<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-10-16/4th-tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-announced-after-10-years/.94304|title=4th Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki Announced After 10 Years|work=Anime News Network|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=2017-07-07|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170707051012/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2015-10-16/4th-tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-announced-after-10-years/.94304|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-09-10/4th-tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-ova-reveals-more-cast-anime-character-designs-3rd-key-visual/.106311|title=4th Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki OVA Reveals More Cast, Anime Character Designs, 3rd Key Visual|work=Anime News Network|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=2017-06-06|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170606003448/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-09-10/4th-tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-ova-reveals-more-cast-anime-character-designs-3rd-key-visual/.106311|url-status=live}}</ref> with the first collection released on November 30, 2016.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-02/tenchi-muyou-season-4-reveals-staff-ending-song-fall-ova-launch-visual/.101716|title=Tenchi Muyou Season 4 Reveals Staff, Ending Song, Fall OVA Launch, Visual|work=Anime News Network|access-date=18 March 2018|archive-date=2016-05-03|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160503120527/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2016-05-02/tenchi-muyou-season-4-reveals-staff-ending-song-fall-ova-launch-visual/.101716|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUF4|title=天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 1巻 特装版|date=30 November 2016|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Amazon|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816185712/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUF4|url-status=live}}</ref> The following episodes were planned to be released with an interval of three months each, and the final part of the series arrived August 30, 2017.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUM2|title=天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 2巻 特装版|date=22 February 2017|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Amazon|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816185712/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUM2|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOWR0|title=天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 3巻 特装版|date=31 May 2017|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Amazon|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816185712/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOWR0|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUH2|title=天地無用! 魎皇鬼 第四期 4巻 特装版|date=13 September 2017|access-date=18 March 2018|via=Amazon|archive-date=16 August 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160816185712/https://www.amazon.co.jp/dp/B01HPJOUH2|url-status=live}}</ref> On July 12, 2019, it was announced that a fifth OVA series is currently in development, with Masaki Kajishima again serving as chief director and Hideki Shirane writing and overseeing scripts.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-12/tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-ova-series-gets-5th-season/.148941|title= Tenchi Muyo! Ryo Ohki OVA Series Gets 5th Season|author= Hodgkins, Crystalyn|date= July 12, 2019|website= [[Anime News Network]]|access-date= July 12, 2019|archive-date= July 12, 2019|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20190712102432/https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2019-07-12/tenchi-muyo-ryo-ohki-ova-series-gets-5th-season/.148941|url-status= live}}</ref>

Several variations of the original series were created. The first of these was ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki, TV Series'' (also known as ''Tenchi Universe''), in [[1995]]; it is a twenty-six episode TV series that retells the original series differently. Next, ''Shin Tenchi Muyo!'' (also known as ''Tenchi in Tokyo''), in [[1997]], is yet a third version of the story, but this time centered in [[Tokyo]] with a girl named Sakuya Kumashiro. It is also a twenty-six episode TV series and many of the main characters had some personality changes. Because it is completely different from the OVAs and first TV series Tenchi in Tokyo is not as popular.

A twenty-six-episode anime television series called {{nihongo|''[[Tenchi Universe]]''|天地無用!|Tenchi Muyō!}} was released in 1995, and it was focused on retelling and expanding upon the original six-episode story. {{nihongo|''[[Tenchi in Tokyo]]''|新・天地無用!|Shin Tenchi Muyō!}} was created in 1997, and it is another alternate version of the original story. The latest version of the series called ''[[Ai Tenchi Muyo!]]'', was broadcast on [[Tokyo MX]] in 2014.<ref>{{cite news |date=2004-08-29 |title=Ai Tenchi Muyo Brings Back Original Characters |url=http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-29/ai-tenchi-muyo-brings-back-original-characters/.78170 |work=Anime News Network |access-date=2014-08-30 |archive-date=2014-09-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140901055146/http://www.animenewsnetwork.com/news/2014-08-29/ai-tenchi-muyo-brings-back-original-characters/.78170 |url-status=live }}</ref>

The manga is made by [[Hitoshi Okuda]]. The manga is published in [[English language|English]] in [[North America]] by [[Viz Communications]], as '''''Tenchi Muy&#333;!''''' and '''''No Need for Tenchi!'''''. In [[Singapore]] it is published in English by [[Chuang Yi]] as ''No Need for Tenchi!''.

Spin-off series of ''Tenchi Muyo!'' were also created. ''[[Magical Girl Pretty Sammy]]'' is an example that was adapted into a manga series. The franchise has also spawned soundtrack CDs and other merchandise released both in Japan and in the [[United States]].

''[[Tenchi Muyo! GXP]]'', released in [[2001]], goes back to the original OVA timeline; however this time the main character of this twenty-six episode TV series is Seina Yamada, a friend of Tenchi Masaki who accidentally joins the Galaxy Police. Unlike all previous Tenchi Muyo! incarnations, GXP was licensed in the United States by [[FUNimation]] and was released on DVD in early 2004.

==Concept==

There are also three movies: ''Tenchi Muyo in Love!'', [[1996]]; ''Tenchi Muyo: Manatsu no Eve'' (''The Daughter of Darkness''), [[1997]]; and ''Tenchi Muyo in Love 2: Haruka naru omoi'' (''Tenchi Forever''), [[1999]].

[[Masaki Kajishima]] and [[Hiroki Hayashi]] cite the ''[[Bubblegum Crisis]]'' OVAs, which they both worked on, as being the inspiration for ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki''. In an interview with AIC, Hayashi described ''Bubblegum Crisis'' as "a pretty gloomy anime. Serious fighting, complicated human relationships and dark Mega Tokyo." They thought it would be fun to create some comedy episodes with ideas like the girls going to the hot springs, but it was rejected by the sponsors. He also said that there was a trend to have a bunch of characters of one gender and a single one of the other gender, and asked what if Mackey (Sylia's brother) was a main character, reversing the ''Bubblegum'' scenario. This became the basis for ''Tenchi Muyo!''.<ref name="hayashi interview"/>

In designing [[Ryoko (Tenchi Muyo)|Ryoko]], Kajishima and Hayashi were inspired by the American sitcom ''[[I Dream of Jeannie]]'' and wanted to use her in their works. In the first episode, Tenchi would open the sealed cave, which was a reference to the Jeannie's bottle, and a "cute witch" would jump out. Hayashi said that Tenchi is "sort of" based on Mackey, and that after Tenchi and Ryoko, the other girls were designed to be characters to balance the picture in the very early concepts of the series, and that they are original characters.<ref name="hayashi interview">{{cite web | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110705232238/http://www.aicanime.com/about/interview_hayashi.html | archive-date=July 5, 2011 | url-status=dead | work = AIC Anime English Website | publisher=[[Anime International Company]] | title=Interview with Hiroki Hayashi | date=February 2011 | url=http://www.aicanime.com/about/interview_hayashi.html }}</ref>

Tenchi Muyo has also two complete spin-offs. The first, ''[[Pretty Sammy|Pretty Sammy, the Magical Girl]]'', in [[1995]], is a three episode OVA Series that centers around a girl named Sasami Kawai who magically becomes Pretty Sammy. The second, ''[[Pretty Sammy]]'' (also known as ''Magical Project S''), in [[1996]], is an alternate version of the OVA storyline.

==Media==

Other versions of ''Tenchi Muyo!'' are also available as [[graphic novel]]s, [[video game]]s and [[radio drama]]s.

===OVA===

Before the popularity of series like ''[[Love Hina]]'' and ''[[Ai Yori Aoshi]]'', ''Tenchi Muyo!'' was also considered to be the standard to judge series with a milquetoast/meek but kind male lead surrounded by attractive but often bizarre women. These were later pejoratively called "harem comedy" or "[[harem anime]]," although, in the strictest sense, many shows given this title don't fit the bill.

{{Main article|Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki}}

The first OVA was titled ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki'' and was created by [[Masaki Kajishima]]. ''Ryo-Ohki'' comprises 5 OVA series to date. The fifth OVA released its last episode on May 28, 2021.

''Tenchi Muyo!'' was one of the early successes for [[Anime International Company|AIC]], the animation company behind it, which went on to create ''[[El-Hazard]]'', ''[[Battle Athletes]]'', ''[[Oh My Goddess!]]'', ''[[Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure]]'' and many other beloved anime series. The main artist for the series is [[Kajishima Masaki]].

===Manga===

For many American fans, ''Tenchi Muyo!'' was the series that introduced them to anime, or cemented their love for it. Along with ''[[Robotech]]'', ''[[Ranma ½]]'' and others, Tenchi helped to firmly establish the American anime community in the 1990s.

Hitoshi Okuda wrote two manga series based on the OVA series. The first manga is titled {{nihongo|''No Need for Tenchi''|天地無用!魎皇鬼|Tenchi Muyō! Ryo-Ohki}} and was published by Kadokawa Shoten and serialized in Dragon Comic Jr. magazine from December 16, 1994, to June 9, 2000.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} The series was collected into 12 tankōbon volumes.

''No Need for Tenchi'' was released in English in the United States by [[Viz Media|Viz Communications]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://viz.com/products/series/tenchi/comics.shtml|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010618073525fw_/http://viz.com/products/series/tenchi/comics.shtml|title=No Need for Tenchi Comics|publisher=[[Viz Communications]]|archive-date=2001-06-18|accessdate=2023-04-19}}</ref> and in Singapore by [[Chuang Yi]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/english/sud_pages/tenchi/tenchi_main/issues_tenchi.htm|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050324083733fw_/http://www.chuangyi.com.sg/english/sud_pages/tenchi/tenchi_main/issues_tenchi.htm|title=No Need for Tenchi|publisher=[[Chuang Yi]]|archive-date=2005-03-24|accessdate=2023-04-19}}</ref>

{{spoiler}}

The second series titled {{nihongo|''The All-New Tenchi Muyo!''|新・天地無用! 魎皇鬼|Shin Tenchi Muyō! Ryo-Ohki|New Tenchi Muyo! Ryu-Ohki}} was also published by Kadokawa Shoten and serialized in Dragon Comic Age magazine from July 26, 2000, to December 9, 2005.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

== The Main Characters ==

The names are in English order, with the surname after the given name. Their names also involve quite a bit of wordplay. One of the features that a Westerner would miss is that just about ''all'' the main characters are ''both'' connected to space aliens ''and'' reassuringly Japanese, not Gaijin at all.

The series was collected into 10 tankōbon volumes.

* '''Tenchi Masaki''' (&#26622;&#26408;&#22825;&#22320; ''Masaki Tenchi''), the hero and descendant of aliens from the planet Jurai. He has a light-sabre-like sword that bears the same name as himself. Currently he trains to be a Shinto Priest (and a Jurai Swordsman). He is a little clueless around women though. Tenchi has shown in the series three forms &mdash; his normal human form, a battle form, and a pure Jurai form. In his Jurai form, he has access to the ultimate power of the Jurai royal family &mdash; the Wings of the Light Hawk. (This refers to a particular species of hawk, of mythological reference in Japan, and is not two words incomprehensibly jammed together.) In the OVA, at one time he lived in the city with his father and only went to his grandfather's shrine every summer. But when Ryoko beamed the house aboard her ship, while escaping from Ayeka, after it crashed it was permantly relocated right next to his grandfather's shrine. Is a victim who is forced to have all the girls live with him in his house. Though they tend to get on his nerves he would never forsaken them.

* '''Ryoko''' (&#39758;&#21628; ''Ry&#333;ko''), a girl who has fallen madly in love with Tenchi. Depending on the series, she is either a 5,000 year old wanted criminal ressurected by Tenchi, or a feisty space pirate. Ryoko has a lot of powers and has an angry streak, a lot of light-blue hair, and a ship named Ryo-Ohki that can turn into a "cabbit," a half-cat, half-rabbit creature of Washu's creation. She also enjoys drinking [[Sake]] and is a bit of a alcholic. In the OVA she merges with Zero a creaton from Dr. Clay, Washu's rival, who had impersonated her. The result is it allows for Ryoko to have more emotional feelings. "Ry&#333;ko" is given to mean "spirit caller". However, this is also a very common name usually meaning "traveller", while for this character a more explicit reading is "dragon-and-tiger fight", referring to the sex act.

* '''Ayeka''' (&#38463;&#37325;&#38686; ''Aeka''), Princess of Jurai, who has found her way to Earth. She is also infatuated with Tenchi. Her full name in the OVA is '''Ayeka Masaki Jurai''' (&#26622;&#26408;&#38463;&#37325;&#38686;&#27193;&#38647; ''Masaki Aeka Jurai''). Ayeka is a bit snooty, but most of her bad qualities are drawn out by Ryoko. The two constantly bicker, often over who is going to marry Tenchi. In the OVA, Ayeka was once engaged to her brother Yosho (In the Jurai Royal Family in the OVA it is not uncommon to marry a relative). When she came to live on the earth she found her brothers tree alive which meant he must still be alive. She eventually found out her brother Yosho is really Tenchi's grandfather Katsuhito. Currently she has given up on him now that he is too old for her and is currently going for Tenchi in hopes of marrying him despite for Ayeka's problems with Ryoko. The romanization of her name in the official English versions is "Ayeka" instead of "Aeka" to clarify its pronunciation. Her name is believed to be derived from "aekanaru", meaning "frail" or "delicate", which is her usual personality. An old reading of Aeka is "willowy", or "requiring the assistance of a man". The tree is of course referenced in the "soul of the ship", and further connects to "spring" and the "awakening of sexual desire". In Japanese mythology, the willow tree is known as a "demon repeller", so she is the opposite of Ry&#333;ko in this regard as well.

* '''Sasami''' (&#30722;&#27801;&#32654; ''Sasami''), Ayeka's little sister, a sweet soul who does all the cooking, and is often the most reasonable person in the household despite her young age. In the OVA, her full name is '''Sasami Masaki Jurai''' (&#26622;&#26408;&#30722;&#27801;&#32654;&#27193;&#38647; ''Masaki Sasami Jurai''). Like all the other girls, she has a crush on Tenchi. She is Ryo-ohki's best friend when she is in cabbit form, and the two are usually found together. In the OVA her very being is intertwined with the main royal tree of Jurai, Tsunami, due to an accident that happened when she was young &mdash; when Sasami reaches adulthood, she will become Tsunami. The [[kanji]] characters composing her name mean in turn "Beach Beach Beauty". As a Japanese colloquial word, it means "little one" or "tyke".

* '''Washu Hakubi''' (&#30333;&#30473; &#40434;&#32701; ''Hakubi Wash&#363;''), Washu, the greatest scientific genius in the universe, is a different character depending on the series. In the OVA, she is over 20,000 years old. Also in the OVA, she is the mother of Ryoko, and creator of the Soja and Ryo-ohki. She constantly tries to get that "last" bit of data from Tenchi, failing usually due to Mihoshi when she enters the lab. She also has a bit of a crush on Tenchi, despite the difference in their ages, but her primary interest in him is scientific. In the OVA, Washu's origin is simple, yet complex &mdash; she is in fact an incarnation of one of the three godesses that govern the universe. Out of all the girls she is the most suspicious and doesn't fall into enemy traps as easily as Tenchi or the other girls would. The [[kanji]] comprising her name mean "Japanese prisoner" serially, which refers to her original appearance, trapped in Kagato's ship, but the name "Washu" is an ancient one for Japan; specifically, the region around [[Osaka]], which recently became a technical center of Japan, also once known as [[Yamato]]. Washu's hair is in a form derivative of a certain costume from [[Noh]] plays, hair intended to resemble the (usually black) legs and claws of a crab. For her, it's a red crab, because this is a food specialty of Osaka.

* '''Mihoshi Kuramitsu''' (&#20061;&#32645;&#23494; &#32654;&#26143; ''Kuramitsu Mihoshi''), quite possibly the dumbest blonde in the galaxy, who also happens to be a Galaxy Police detective. In the OVA, she constantly enters Washu's lab and breaks things, sleeps often, and is the most lucky of the Galaxy Police. Mihoshi is probably the one of the girls who is least interested in Tenchi, although she has her moments of infatuation as well. In the OVA, in what has to be one of the best examples of "sometimes the apple does fall far from the tree", Mihoshi is actually a direct line descendant of Washu. In the OVA, the only reason why she is still with the Galaxy Police is because her Grandfather is the Grand Marshall. Also has a weird form of luck where it may give her good luck, towards others however it gives them bad luck. Like Sasami she is also a carefree person. Although she is putatively from another planet, she is one of a ''character type'' in Japanese popular fiction, reappearing in other anime: the girl who doesn't have to deal with the troubles of ordinary people, and who just lives in the sun, indicated by her tan. Her blonde hair refers to "the sun in her hair", a similar mark of special status. No antipathy to Westerners is intended by this type. Her name refers to the planet "Venus", but in the Western sense as "Pretty Star", not the Chinese sense of "metal star". In the TV series and movies, Mihoshi is partnered with a woman named Kiyone Makibi.

* '''Kiyone Makibi''' (&#30495;&#20633;&#28165;&#38899; ''Makibi Kiyone'') Kiyone, who first appears in the OVA special "Galaxy Police Mihoshi's Space Adventure" and later became a staple in the TV series timeline, is Mihoshi's partner. Long-suffering and constantly dragged down by Mihoshi, (Even though she graduated from the Academy with Honors) who gets on Kiyone's nerves more than anyone's. Unlike Mihoshi she is a good detective and does know how to use the Galaxy Police Equipment properly. One thing she has in common with Tenchi is she is also a victim that is forced to live with him and the other girls on earth (In the first TV Series she and Mihoshi move into a low cost apartment because she doesn't want to be a burden on Tenchi). Kiyone does not appear in the OVA Canon &mdash; In the OVA continuity Tenchi's mother is named Kiyone and Mihoshi's old partner is Noike)

* '''Nobuyuki Masaki''', Tenchi's father, who is not the sharpest knife in the drawer. Is also a Peeping Tom and tries to encourage Tenchi to be more active towards women. (Though he is a minor character in the OVA's only in both of the TV Series however he is more of a support character.)

* '''Katsuhito Masaki''', Tenchi's grandfather (on his mother's side). In the OVA, Katsuhito Masaki, also known as '''Yosho''', fled Jurai over 700 years ago to "retire" on Earth was once the greatest swordsman on Jurai. Tenchi's mother died when Tenchi was young. Currently Katsuhito is a Shinto Priest who is not only training Tenchi be a Shinto priest but also the knowledge of his Jurai Swordsmanship skills so Tenchi can be his Sucessor. Was arranged to be married to Ayeka but left because since he is half Human, it would have caused a controversy because not all Juraians liked the idea of mixed blood heritages, he used Ryoko's attack as an excuse to slip away to earth. In the OVA, he really did not expect that Ayeka was trying to track him down though he concealed his new identity at first when she came to live on the earth. In the first TV Series he is still known as Yosho and is related to Jurai its just the only difference that he isn't a close relative to Ayeka or Sasami.

* '''Ryo-Ohki''' (&#39758;&#30343;&#39740; ''Ry&#333;'&#333;ki''), the cabbit. Ryo-Ohki is Ryoko's pet in the OVA and the Tenchi Universe series while Ryo-Ohki is Sasami's pet in Tenchi and Tokyo. In the OVA, when not being used for transport, Ry&#333;ko's ship transforms into a cabbit, a cross between a cat and a rabbit. Like her feline half, she is insatiably curious and constantly getting into trouble. Like her rabbit half, she can eat several times her own weight in carrots. In the OVA, Ryo-Ohki prefers to hang out with Sasami rather than Ry&#333;ko because Sasami is much nicer to her. Westerners utterly miss the huge build-up in that Ryo-Ohki literally means "Dragon King", and before its first appearance is considered a ruthless criminal ship that Mihoshi is pursuing. Later in the OVA and manga, thanks to an incident involving the raw material she was made from, Ryo-Ohki gains two "cabbit-girl" forms &mdash; an adult form and a child form. However she chose to remain with the child form because the adult form is too hard to walk with. The child form is considered unstable where the slightest shock will cause her to revert back to her cabbit form. In Tenchi in Tokyo she can transform into a giant pink mecha-like cabbit robot.

===TV Villains series===

{{Main article|Tenchi Universe|Tenchi in Tokyo|Tenchi Muyo! GXP|Ai Tenchi Muyo!}}

* '''Kagato''' is the enemy in the first OAV series and First TV Series. What impresses Mihoshi most about his record is that for centuries he has been plundering and destroying sacred sites around the universe. The collar of his costume resembles a clerical one, and on it he wears a three-armed emblem composed of the same sort of arms that a crucifix is made of. The interior of his ship, the S&#333;ja, has an organ and in its two rows of gothic arches resembles a Christian cathedral. Thus is a powerful opponent of all these Japanese characters (except Kiyone) concocted. The significance of these references is lost on Westerners. His name is given in [[kanji]] as "God Ego Man" but in common Japanese, the name merely means "heel". In the First Tv Series, He has a different appearance than his OVA counterpart, He is connected to Jurai's Royal Family and was a great swordsman. He would have been the legendary swordsman instead of Yosho but he had been obsessed with power, Yosho defeated him and he disappeared. His name was erased from Jurai's records, years later he would return to pose as Yosho having discovered Eternal Youth, became Jurai's King and framed Ayeka which was all part of his plan. This forces the Tenchi Family to leave Earth to journey to Jurai to clear their names.

After the first OVA series aired, [[Anime International Company|AIC]] began looking into TV adaptations beyond the ''Mihoshi Special''. In 1995 {{nihongo|''[[Tenchi Universe]]''|天地無用!宇宙篇|Tenchi Muyō! Uchū Hen}}, a 26-episode anime television series was created by Hiroshi Negishi, animated by [[Anime International Company|AIC]] and produced by [[Geneon Entertainment|Pioneer]]. It was loosely based on the first six episodes of the OVA series and the ''Mihoshi Special''. Two years later, another AIC production followed suit called {{nihongo|''[[Tenchi in Tokyo]]''|新・天地無用!|Shin Tenchi Muyō!|New Tenchi Muyo!}}, which aired through 1997 and also ran 26 episodes. It borrowed characters and some plot devices from the previous incarnations, but with a noticeable art shift and very different concepts, such as centering on Tenchi's high school and being a priest in Tokyo.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} The most recent series {{nihongo|''[[Ai Tenchi Muyo!]]''|愛・天地無用!}} aired in October 2014. The series commemorated the 20th anniversary of the franchise and was sponsored by the city of [[Takahashi, Okayama]].{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

== External Links ==

*[http://www.aicanime.com/products/tenchi/ AIC's Official Tenchi Muyo! Site]

*[http://www.animeondvd.com/discdata/essential/tenchi_muyo.htm Anime on DVD Essential Tenchi Muyo!] &mdash; the brief overview of the series

*[http://www.animeondvd.com/specials/primers/tenchiprimer.php Tenchi Muyo! Primer] - the overview of each series of ''Tenchi Muyo!''

*[http://www.tmau.cjb.net/ Tenchi Muyo Another Universe] &mdash; Very Useful Resource Site coving all of the Tenchi Series, Movies, and Spin-Offs as well as the latest news.

*[http://www.tenchiintokyo.org Tenchi in Tokyo] &mdash; Wiki dedicated to the Tenchi anime series.

*[http://www.russael.cjb.net/ Tenchi Muyo Information Archives] &mdash; Has a archive of screenshots from Tenchi Episodes and has a Character Guide that explains the character differences between each of the Tenchi series.

[[ja:%E5%A4%A9%E5%9C%B0%E7%84%A1%E7%94%A8%21]]

===Films===

[[Category:Anime]]

An anime film titled ''[[Tenchi the Movie: Tenchi Muyo in Love]]'', created by Hiroshi Negishi, is a continuation of the ''Tenchi Universe'' TV series. A second film, ''[[Tenchi the Movie 2: The Daughter of Darkness]]'', was adapted from a novel written by Naoko Hasegawa. The third film, titled ''[[Tenchi Forever! The Movie]]'', is the sequel to ''Tenchi Muyo in Love'' and was adapted into a manga titled ''Tenchi Muyo! In Love 2: Eternal Memory''.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

[[Category:Manga]]

===Novels===

Kajishima has written several books based on the franchise, including the ongoing ''[[Tenchi Muyo! GXP|Tenchi Muyo! GXP: Galaxy Police Transporter]]'' novel series, the novels ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Jurai'', ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Yosho'', and ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Washu'', and recently, the ''Paradise Wars'' spinoff.<ref name="Light novel"/> There are also a number of [[dōjinshi]] by and interviews with Kajishima, as well as a companion book, ''101 Questions and Answers of Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Oh-Ki''.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}} Naoko Hasegawa wrote a series of thirteen light novels continuing from the first OVA series, starting with "One Visitor After Another: Hexagram Of Love" in 1993.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

[[Seven Seas Entertainment]] has licensed the light novels ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Jurai'', ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Yosho'', ''Shin Tenchi Muyo! Washu'' for a North American release in 2017, and released them as ''True Tenchi Muyo!' in 2018 and 2019.<ref name="Light novel">{{cite web|title=Seven Seas Explores Galactic Lore With License of TRUE TENCHI MUYO! Light Novel Series|url=http://www.sevenseasentertainment.com/2017/11/16/seven-seas-explores-galactic-lore-with-license-of-true-tenchi-muyo-light-novel-series/|website=Seven Seas Entertainment|access-date=November 16, 2017|date=November 16, 2017|archive-date=November 17, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171117122051/http://www.sevenseasentertainment.com/2017/11/16/seven-seas-explores-galactic-lore-with-license-of-true-tenchi-muyo-light-novel-series/|url-status=live}}</ref>

===Video games===

Numerous video games have been released based on the franchise, such as ''[[Tenchi Muyo! Game Hen]]'' for the [[Super Famicom]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Replay Muyo! |url=http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/snes/tenchigamehen/reviews/tenchigamehenrdrev1.html |work=RPGamer <!--|publisher rem=The publisher may be "Crave Online". --> |access-date=2014-09-24 |archive-date=2017-07-01 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170701141928/http://www.rpgamer.com/games/other/snes/tenchigamehen/reviews/tenchigamehenrdrev1.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>

===Radio===

A radio drama was released titled ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki Manatsu no Carnival''.{{citation needed|date=May 2015}}

===Stage play===

On AnimeJapan 2019, it was announced on AIC Rights' booth that a stage play based on the first season of Ryo-Ohki was in development, scheduled to premiere in 2019.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://natalie.mu/comic/news/325164|title=「天地無用!魎皇鬼」舞台化が決定}}</ref> On May 17, the cast and staff was announced, with Kazuhiro Igarashi writing the script and Kazuma Sato starring as Tenchi Masaki.<ref>{{Cite web|url = https://www.confetti-web.com/detail.php?tid=52672&|title = カンフェティ演劇祭参加作品 舞台「天地無用!魎皇鬼」 &#124; カンフェティ &#91;演劇やクラシックのチケット情報満載&#93;|date = 7 June 2019|access-date = 24 May 2019|archive-date = 21 May 2022|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20220521123044/https://www.confetti-web.com/detail.php?tid=52672&|url-status = live}}</ref> It ran from July 17 to the 21st on the Shinjukumura Live venue, in Tokyo.

==Spin-offs==

The first ''Tenchi'' spinoff is the ''[[Magical Girl Pretty Sammy]]'' series, a [[magical girl]] series where Sasami is the lead character. The first use of Pretty Sammy was in the ''Tenchi Muyo! Sound File'', a Japanese-only music video release. The same animation was used in the ending of the ''[[Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki#Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special|Tenchi Muyo! Mihoshi Special]]''. In 1995, a three episode ''Pretty Sammy'' OVA series began, where Sasami, who is known as Sasami Kawai, magically becomes Pretty Sammy. The second ''Pretty Sammy'' series is a TV series, which came out in 1996, also known as ''[[Magical Project S]]''. This series is in a separate continuity from the OVA series. Pretty Sammy also appears in the ''Mihoshi Special'' toward the end of Mihoshi's story, and in an alternate reality sequence in the ''Tenchi Universe'' series.

Also created by Masaki Kajishima, the 1997 OVA series ''[[Photon: The Idiot Adventures]]'' is related to the ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki'' universe. ''[[Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar]]'' from 2009 uses a number of elements from ''Photon'', such as Koros, Aho energy, having a princess named Lashara, and a young hero with such strong superhuman abilities he's practically invincible.

Also by Masaki Kajishima, the 1998 OVA series ''Spaceship Agga Ruter'' and its 1999 visual novel continuation ''Space Ofera Agga Ruter ~Kyoufu no Uchuu Majo~'' take place in ''Tenchi Muyo!'' universe.

The 1999 series ''[[Dual! Parallel Trouble Adventure]]'' is related to the ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki'' universe, due to the blatant use of the "Lighthawk Wings" associated with the Jurai dynasty in ''Tenchi Muyo''.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}} The creator of both ''Dual!'' and ''Tenchi Muyo!'', Masaki Kajishima, confirmed that ''Dual!'' does relate to ''Tenchi Muyo!'', and is in fact an alternate version of the ''Tenchi Muyo!'' universe.{{Citation needed|date=April 2010}}

[[Guardians of Order]] published a line of English-language ''[[Tenchi Muyo! (role-playing game)|Tenchi Muyo]]'' [[role-playing game]] books based on the various series in the Tenchi franchise starting in 2000.

''[[Tenchi Muyo! GXP]]'' was released in Japan in 2001. The series takes place during the Kajishima version of the OVA continuity, and is set a year after the events of the third OVA series (despite being released first chronologically). The main character is Seina Yamada, a friend of Tenchi Masaki who accidentally joined the Galaxy Police. Many characters from ''Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-ohki'' make appearances in this series, including the use of [[Seiryo Tennan]] as a major character and a full-fledged ''Tenchi Muyo!'' crossover in episode 17.

''[[Battle Programmer Shirase]]'' is a 2003 spin-off of the ''Pretty Sammy'' OVA and TV series, keeping the character Misao Amano from ''Pretty Sammy'', and with the main character Akira Shirase, Misao's great-uncle; however, it bears little in common with either ''Pretty Sammy'' series because it has neither magic, nor Sasami, nor Misao's alter ego Pixy Misa.

''[[Sasami: Magical Girls Club]]'' aired in Japan in 2006. The third spin-off featuring Sasami (known here as Sasami Iwakura) as the main character.

The most recent ''Tenchi'' spin-off series is called ''[[Tenchi Muyo! War on Geminar]]'' (aka ''Isekai no Seikishi Monogatari'') which follows the tale of Tenchi's half-brother Kenshi Masaki as he finds himself in a foreign world that uses [[mecha|humanoid machines]] to fight their wars.

==References==

{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==

* {{Cite web |last=Divers |first=Allen |url=https://www.animenewsnetwork.com/tankobon-tower/2003-07-02 |title=A New Beginning - TT |work=Anime News Network |date=2 July 2003 }}

==External links==

* {{anime News Network|anime|919|Tenchi Muyo! Ryo-Ohki}}

* {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/*/http://www.viz.com/products/series/tenchi/|title=''No Need for Tenchi!''}} at [[VIZ Communications]]

* {{anime News Network|anime|3009|Spaceship Agga Ruter}}

* {{vndb|13355||Space Ofera Agga Ruter ~Kyoufu no Uchuu Majo~}}

{{Tenchi Muyo!}}

{{Monthly Dragon Age}}

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